Thompson to join lineup against Vancouver

Tage Thompson will step back into the lineup when the Buffalo Sabres host the Vancouver Canucks at KeyBank Center on Saturday afternoon.
Thompson, a healthy scratch for the past four contests, will replace Zemgus Girgensons on a line with Patrik Berglund and Johan Larsson. Coach Phil Housley said the decision was based on the need to get the 21-year-old forward in the lineup, not any fault in Girgensons' game.
"Larsson's line has been very good for us," Housley said. "I thought they dipped a little bit last game. But it's not indicative of the way they've played. It's just a matter of trying to get Tage in, trying to get him some games now. You don't want to sit him out too long."

Thompson stood out upon joining the Sabres in the fall, first among his peers at the Prospects Challenge and then throughout training camp. That performance earned him a spot on the opening-night roster, and he remained in the lineup for the team's first seven games.
Housley has said that he'd like to see Thompson use his 6-foot-6, 205-pound frame to bring physicality and attack the net.
"I think he's got to get back to what made him make the team," Housley said. "He was a very physical guy, he was using his speed, he was attacking the game, he was shooting the puck. He's got to be battle ready. That's one of the things that, when he's at his best, he's a force out there.
"He uses his speed, he brings a physical element on the forecheck and he goes to the net hard. But he's got a terrific shot. He's got to use that release and get pucks to the net."

The Sabres have allowed Thompson to develop his game after practice and in the film room rather than send him to the AHL. Housley said the forward has been patient and understanding of the process.
"He's a terrific teammate," Housley said. "He comes to work every day and does extra to try to get himself prepared. He's part of our culture. He fits right in with our group and they support him well so I'm sure he's looking forward to this game."
Carter Hutton will get the nod in net for the Sabres. The rest of the lineup will remain the same from their win in Montreal on Thursday.
Coverage on MSG-B begins at 12:30 p.m. with the GMC Game Night pregame show, or you can listen to the game live on WGR 550. The puck drops at 1.

Scouting the Canucks

The matchup will pit two of the league's standout rookies against each other in Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin and Canucks forward Elias Pettersson, who played together for Sweden in each of the last two World Junior Championships.
Pettersson, selected fifth overall in 2017, has become just the fifth player since the NHL's inaugural season to score 10 goals in his first 10 games. He leads all rookies with 17 points.
"They're very good hockey players," Housley said. "They're smart, they're instinctive, they use their ability and their instincts on the ice and that's what makes them special players. Pettersson's having a heck of a year right now. He's got a great release. He just has a knack of being in the right spot at the right time."
The Canucks lead the Pacific Division with 21 points and rank third in the NHL with 56 goals. They're coming off an 8-5 win at Boston on Thursday despite playing without last year's leading scorer in Brock Boeser, who remains out with an injury.
"It just seems that they found an identity to their team where they have a good buy-in, everybody's playing as one," Housley said. "They attack the game very well, they go to the net hard and that's one area that we're going to have to protect. They seem to be well-balanced."
Jacob Markstrom will start in net for Vancouver.

Projected lineup

53 Jeff Skinner - 9 Jack Eichel - 29 Jason Pominville
43 Conor Sheary - 37 Casey Mittelstadt - 21 Kyle Okposo
17 Vladimir Sobotka - 71 Evan Rodrigues - 23 Sam Reinhart
10 Patrik Berglund - 22 Johan Larsson - 72 Tage Thompson
19 Jake McCabe - 55 Rasmus Ristolainen
6 Marco Scandella - 4 Zach Bogosian
82 Nathan Beaulieu - 26 Rasmus Dahlin
40 Carter Hutton
35 Linus Ullmark